Bracebridge

Bracebridge is a town of 17,300 people (2021) in the Muskoka region of the province of Ontario. Its most notable and first recognized characteristic is the modern, European-style downtown. In the summer, the small town's population increases significantly providing recreation for tens of thousands of tourists and seasonal residents.

Understand
The municipal boundaries of Bracebridge encompass the smaller communities of Clear Lake, Falkenburg (a ghost town), Falkenburg Station, Fraserburg, Germania, Lakewood, Matthiasville, Monsell (a ghost town), Purbrook, Rocksborough, Springdale Park, Stoneleigh, Uffington and Vankoughnet.

History
Bracebridge is shaped by its proximity to Lake Muskoka to which it is connected by 6 miles of the Muskoka River. The abundant water power afforded by the great waterfall at the foot of the downtown powered the first factory. The arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway cemented the town's role as a transportation hub for the area.

Modern settlement of the town began in the 1860s, beginning at first with a few log huts. The Muskoka colonization road had been completed to the first falls on the north branch of the Muskoka River by 1862. Entrepreneurs began to take advantage of the area's water power. With the advent of steamship service on Lake Muskoka a few years later, Bracebridge prospered as the main distribution centre for the region.

By car
Car travel is the most popular way to reach Muskoka. It is on the 45th parallel, approximately 190 km north of Toronto. Take Highway 400 north through Barrie and continue north up Highway 11 in the direction of North Bay. In the summer, Highway 400 and the two northern highways (Hwys 11 and 69) will always be packed heading north on a Friday and south on a Sunday. Dual lanes in each direction have eased the traffic in the past few years, however on 'long weekends', travel to Muskoka is always busy and can take several hours from the Toronto area: Victoria Day (the Monday before May 25), Canada Day (July 1), Ontario Civic Holiday (first Monday in August), and Labour Day (first Monday in September).

Winter travel to the region can be tricky depending on the weather. Bracebridge and the surrounding area do get several winter storms per year, and can be difficult to access if you are not used to winter driving. Winters have become milder, and improved roads in the area in also help. However, this can vary from year to year as it lies on the cusp of the strong snow-belt areas of the country.

By train
Passenger rail service through Muskoka was discontinued in 2012. As of 2023, service is expected to resume in the mid-2020's.

By plane

 * Northern Airport Service offers a daily scheduled shuttle service from Pearson Airport (Toronto, ) to Bracebridge. The trip takes about 2 hours.
 * Northern Airport Service offers a daily scheduled shuttle service from Pearson Airport (Toronto, ) to Bracebridge. The trip takes about 2 hours.

Get around
Getting a taxi is never a problem in Bracebridge. Bracebridge is small enough to see on foot as well, however Santa's Village is slightly outside the city, and would be difficult to walk to from downtown.

See
Muskoka is famous for its picturesque scenery. The downtown area of Bracebridge has many small shops along the main street and a small park at the centre of town.



Eat
There are many places to enjoy great food in Bracebridge, from cafés and delis to bistros and fine food restaurants. The small town is home to over 40 eating establishments making it a drawing point of the region based on cuisine alone.

Sleep
As much of Bracebridge's economy is based on tourism, there are plenty of places to sleep in the area. The summer season can become quite busy so as it is not necessary to book ahead, it is certainly recommended if you have particular tastes.

Stay healthy

 * South Muskoka Memorial Hospital, about 2.5 km from Highway # 11. An 84 bed hospital. Emergency facilities available, X-ray, ultrasound, mammography, lab, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dietary services, mental health echocardiography.

Go next

 * Gravenhurst — the next town on the Highway 11 corridor, heading south towards Orillia and Toronto. A regular stop for seasonal residents stocking up on supplies or looking for an evening in town.
 * Huntsville — the next town north on Highway 11, and Muskoka's largest. It's also at the northern edge of Central Ontario; continue into the Near North toward Sudbury, or head east on Highway 60 into Algonquin Provincial Park.
 * Haliburton Highlands — a number of small communities in a rural are to the east, set among pristine lakes and forests on the Canadian Shield, offering quieter cottage country and outdoor recreation.
 * Parry Sound — a detour west through Part Carling leads to Parry Sound on Georgian Bay. It is roughly in the centre of a freshwater archipelago that stretches from French River to Midland, and home to several provincial parks that provide a range of camping and canoeing experiences.
 * Sudbury — the next major destination for a long distance road trip, about north, featuring Science North and the Big Nickel.